This document forms part of a group of shipping and personal identification documents which belonged to the late Asip bin Ali, dated 1948 to the 1970s. The documents paint a vivid picture of Asip bin Ali's career as a sailor, from the point of his appointment in 1948 (based on this Certificate of Service, but mentioned by his family as 1946) through to the late 1970s, whereupon he retired as quartermaster and crew supervisor (as illustrated by the Wages of Deck document). This Certificate of Service was issued at the start of Asip's career as a sailor, but appears to have been retained throughout his career, as evinced by various stamps made in the 1950s and 1960s upon the document.
